Reading Bug Leads To The Buzz On Bees

I made a commitment in an earlier blog entry to attend a few "Catch The Reading Bug" summer reading programs at local libraries this summer.

So I made my way over to the Enfield Public Library as it hosted Stuart Woronecki of Stonewall Apiary, a small family-owned apiary in eastern Connecticut, who gave a honey of a bee presentation.

Seriously, I never realized there was so much to know about bees. The presentation taught kids (and adults) about honeybee life cycles, parts of a beehive and equipment used in beekeeping. There was even a hive with live honeybees that could be observed, as well as candles made from beeswax. Participants also got to taste the honey at the end of the presentation.

Woronecki, who knows a thing or two from years of experience, even brought out the bee suit, and kept a sizable audience engaged.

WHEN 'DOWNTOWN' WAS 'UPTOWN'

When I was a kid, Thompsonville was referred to as "uptown," a place where many proudly held jobs at the Bigelow-Sanford Carpet Co.

I remember trips to Modern Bakery, where my Dad and I would pick up the daily bread for our family's restaurant. He had his hair cut at Bill's Barber Shop and my Mom was a regular Saturday customer at Julia's Beauty Salon, located across the street from the main branch of the post office on High Street.

We banked at CB&T and shopped at Marek Jewelers, then located, fittingly, on Pearl Street.

Our family physician, Dr. Robbins, met us at his office in Thompsonville one Sunday to stitch my upper lip, which I injured going head first over the handlebars on my bike. Oh yeah, bike repairs were made at Vesce's.

Next door to our doctor's office was Thompsonville Drug, where we filled our prescriptions and got to buy a comic book when we were sick, a rare treat in those days. I laughed and cried at movies shown next door to the pharmacy, at the Old Strand Theater. We did our weekly grocery shopping at Alaimo's.

My parents danced until dawn at the Polish National Home with family friends, one we miss who died a few years after my parents, whom we lovingly referred to as the "King of Thompsonville."

Not many missed "Father Paul's" Sunday sermon at Saint Adalbert Church on Alden Avenue.

So I know a bit about the glory days of Thompsonville's historic and storied past.

My how things have changed. Now it's referred to as "downtown,' or T-Ville. I applaud those who try to improve the area, even if they meet with little success. A new group of organizers, including Rep. Kathy Tallarita, have formed Voices of Thompsonville in a new effort to revive the area. The group meets at 5 p.m. at the Amvets on High Street on the third Thursday of the month and welcomes, well, new voices.

Got ideas? Join them. Got comments or old stories to share? E-mail them to me.

NEW FIREHOUSE FOR STAFFORD?

Stafford residents are being asked to approve a new firehouse for the Stafford Fire Department No. 1, currently located at 9 Colburn Road.

A referendum is scheduled for July 31 from noon to 8 p.m. at the Stafford Community-Senior Center, 3 Buckley Highway. Voters are being asked to consider funding $4.6 million for a new 17,000 square foot facility at 273 East St., Route 19.

A breakdown of those funds and more information can be found in a flyer at this web address: www.staffordfire.org.

Voters previously approved $425,000 at a town meeting Sept. 6, 2007, for a 4,200 square-foot addition to the current 10,000 square-foot West Stafford Fire Department on Route 190, currently under construction and scheduled to be completed later this year.

Stafford First Selectman Allen Bacchiochi said an initial proposal, approved by the board of selectmen, was rejected by the board of finance. To reduce costs, the proposed building was reduced by 1,000 square feet of space, he said. Bacchiochi also said the current firehouse could be sold for $200,000.